EFCATS News

Avelino Corma - 2009 Michel Boudart Award for the Advancement of Catalysis

Eric Derouane - obituary of the former EFCATS president

EU funded Transnational Access Programme

Professor Avelino Corma Canos selected for the
2009 Michel Boudart Award for the Advancement of Catalysis

Professor Avelino Corma Canos has been selected for the 2009 Michel Boudart Award for the Advancement of Catalysis. The award consists of a plaque and a monetary prize. The Award recognizes and encourages individual contributions to the elucidation of the mechanism and active sites involved in catalytic phenomena and to the development of new methods or concepts that advance the understanding and/or practice of heterogeneous catalysis. The Award is sponsored by the Haldor Topsøe Company and is administered jointly by the NACS and the EFCATS. More information on this award and the award process can be found in the Awards folder on the NACS home page www.nacatsoc.org. Professor Corma will also be asked to give plenary lectures at the San Francisco NAM meeting in June 2009 and the EuropaCat 2009 meeting in Salamanca, Spain.
Avelino Corma has been a research professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia since 1990 where he founded and is director of the Instituto de Tecnologia Química (UPV-CSIC) at Valencia. He is a world class leader in structured nanomaterials and molecular sieves as catalysts, covering aspects of synthesis, characterization, and reactivity in acid-base and redox catalysis. He is recognized widely for his unique ability to combine state-of-the-art synthetic protocols with modern theoretical and characterization methods to design catalytic materials for specific functions. Avelino has become one of the most prolific and versatile contributors to the science and technology of heterogeneous catalysis. He has published nearly 700 scholarly manuscripts in the leading journals of chemistry and catalysis, and he has been recognized among the fifty most highly cited chemists for the last decade. Remarkably, he has combined these scholarly contributions with more than 100 patents covering inventions of far-reaching impact to the industrial practice of catalysis, many of them licensed to industry and some in commercial practice. In 2006 alone, he received four prestigious international awards in recognition of his many and broad fundamental and practical contributions to the field. As one nominator described, “Professor Avelino Corma’s … work illustrates the value of fundamental concepts in practical discoveries and the need to bring together experiment and theory, characterization of structure and function in complex inorganic solids, and industry and academia as we seek to advance the science of catalysis.” Another supporter remarked, he is “one of the internationally preeminent scholars in the field of catalysis today. His work has had immense impact on the science of this field and has also led to a number of significant technical applications, a very rare accomplishment for any academic investigator.”
Avelino’s grasp of concepts and of fundamental needs has been illustrated in his recent attempts to synthesize and use well defined-single-isolated sites to establish structure-function relations and to establish the connections among homogeneous, enzymatic and heterogeneous catalysis, a conceptual framework that put forward in a seminal paper in Catalysis Reviews, 46 (2004) 369 - 417. One of these approaches involves the selective attachment of organometallic complexes onto tailored substrates that act not only as scaffolds but also as active participant in the activation of reactants and in the stabilization of transition states. These materials provide significant improvements over homogeneous versions of these active complexes through the active participation of the inorganic scaffolds, as shown in some of his recent publications, in which these concepts have been put into practice (e.g. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 45, 3328 (2006); J. Catal. 224, 170 (2004); Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 46, 1536 (2007); Adv. Synth. Catal. 348, 1283 (2006)).
In another example of his many contributions to catalysis, he and his research group have not only addressed the design of new zeolites materials for conventional reactions of hydrocarbons, but also discovered new chemistries and applications for these materials in the synthesis of petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals. The ITQ-type materials have become ubiquitous in the literature; they represent new catalyst compositions, currently numbering about 50 and consisting mostly of microporous solids, all discovered within the Corma research group. His novel catalysts for paraffin isomerization are widely used in practice because of their unprecedented sulfur resistance and high stability and selectivity. His collaborations with industry have led to new zeolites with significant potential in catalytic cracking because of their stability and desirable product distributions. Professor Corma has published extensively about applied aspects of heterogeneous catalysis related to refining technology. These publications have recently explored the kinetics of organosulfur reactions during cracking reactions and the details of hydroisomerization catalysis on acid and bifunctional catalysts, all of which are of critical importance in sustainable development, efficient energy use and responsible management of the environment.
His design of well-structured oxidation and hydrogenation catalysts has lead to new catalytic routes for the chemoselective oxidation of lactones (Nature, 412, 423 (2001)), chemoselective hydrogenation of substituted nitroaromatics (Science 313, 332 (2006)), and chemoselective synthesis of azocompounds (Science 322, 1661 (2008)). He is now actively patenting and publishing on well-defined multisite solid catalysts for cascade reactions.
In addition to his many outstanding research accomplishments, Avelino’s continued leadership in the field has been recognized by numerous awards, including the Francois Gault Award of the European Catalysis Society (2001), the Eugene Houdry Award of the North American Catalysis Society (2002), the Donald Breck Award of the International Zeolite Association (2004), and the Gabor A. Somorjai Award for Creative Research in Catalysis (2008).

12.12.08

Eric Gérard Joseph Derouane, 1944-2008

Eric Derouane died on 17th March 2008 from a heart attack in his home in Luz, Lagos, Portugal. With him, the Catalysis Community has lost one of its strongest and brilliant scientists.

Born on 4th July 1944 at Péruwelz (Hainaut), Belgium, Eric Derouane obtained a Licence degree at the University of Liège, B (1965), a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Chemistry in Prof. J. Turkevich's laboratory at Princeton University, USA (1966) and a Doctorat ès Sciences (PhD) at the University of Liège, B (1968), under the supervision of Prof. Louis d'Or. He stayed one year (1966-1967) in France at the "Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Saclay, Service de Physique du Solide et de Résonance Magnétique" in Prof. A. Abragam's laboratory, and then in USA at Stanford University as visiting Scholar in Prof. M. Boudart's laboratory (1969-1970). He became Research Assistant of the "Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique" (FNRS) and Lecturer at the University of Liège, B (1969-1973). In 1973, he was appointed as Professor at the "Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix" (FUNDP) in Namur, B, where he established in 1976 and was Director of the Laboratory of Catalysis up to 1995. He was in 1979 in Sabbatical leave as Research Fellow with J. Sinfelt at Exxon Res. & Develop. Corp., Linden, NJ, USA, and in 1982-84 as Research Scientist, Head of Exploratory Catalysis Synthesis Group at Mobil Res. & Develop. Corp., Central Research Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, USA. In 1995, he left Namur, became Full Professor and was appointed, after Prof. J. Joyner, as Director of the Leverhulme Centre for Innovative Catalysis (LCIC) at the University of Liverpool until 2002. In 2003, he obtained the Gulbenkian Professorship at the University of Algarve at Faro, P, where he was Director of the Chemical Research Centre and became later Invited Professor at the "Instituto Superior Tecnico" (IST) of the Technical University of Lisbon, where he had extensive cooperation with the group led by Fernando Ramôa Ribeiro.

His main fields of interest dealt with catalysis over zeolites in general, supported metals, novel materials and mixed oxides in particular, and alkane upgrading and fine chemicals more specifically. One of Eric's most striking qualities was his acute interest for every new scientific discovery and development and for industrial applications of his findings.

Eric Derouane had a very high and tremendous working efficiency. He was always attracted by new concepts and had a very high intellectual mobility, being interested and quite active in many domains. Among them one can mention his interest in superconductors, in ZSM-5/MFI new zeolite in the early 70s, leading to a 30 year collaboration with J.C. Védrine, and in the concept and theory of confinement effect and molecular traffic control in porous materials, the study of the reaction mechanisms using isotopic labelling and in-situ MAS-NMR in the 80s, combinatorial catalysis and high throughput technology in the late 90s,.

During his 20 years of dedicated service at the University of Namur (FUNDP), Eric Derouane revealed his tremendous enthusiasm for new concepts and his vast intellectual flexibility. These ideas had an important impact on the catalysis and zeolite communities, and are still in use today. In 1986, he was elected as Head of the Chemistry Department, one of the largest departments of the University He then embarked upon an impressive re-structuring programme to improve the working and academic efficiency. The model, which he initiated, is still in service today within the Chemistry Department. The Laboratory of Catalysis, which he created, was recognized as an outstanding school of scientific research and training.

From early on, Eric Derouane realized the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. That is why he played a key role in the creation of the Institute for Studies in Interface Sciences (ISIS) at Namur in 1987. This institute assembled laboratories of physics and chemistry working on the interface science and materials related to zeolites and lasted 20 years. Eric Derouane also paid heed to technological transfer towards industries. After his experience gained through his sabbatical positions at the Exxon and at Mobil, he developed many collaborations with industrial partners, which were further enhanced by his serving as a consultant to industrial associates. Many companies benefited from his outstanding contributions. All these accomplishments constructed a solid basis for his future developments in Liverpool and in Faro.

At Liverpool, the aim of the LCIC was to promote creative fundamental catalytic science targeted at solving industrial challenges. Eric Derouane defined innovation as "the creation of a new or better product or process, implying creativity, usefulness, and application". Towards this end, the LCIC had industrial affiliates as partners for research and brought together physicists, material scientists, chemists, chemical engineers and biologists. It developed expertise in heterogeneous, homogeneous and biomimetic catalyses, as well as in catalytic surface science. Eric Derouane organized a scientific committee of international experts, including Professors M. Boudart, G. Froment, W. Keim, G. Somorjai, and Sir J.M. Thomas, to assess the laboratory's scientific achievements and ensure that the highest standards were maintained. Under his leadership the LCIC became an internationally renowned centre in catalysis research. It was the largest catalysis centre in the UK, bringing together industries such as Air Products, Astra Zeneca, British Petroleum, British Gas, Catalytica, Chiroscience, Eastman Chemicals, Glaxo-Wellcome, Haldor Topsoe SA, ICI, Johnson Matthey, Millennium Oil, Pfizer and Syntroleum to participate in highly creative projects via the Industrial Affiliation Scheme and the Fine Chemicals Forum.

At Liverpool, the LCIC became a centre of scientific exchanges and collaborations. Eric Derouane established links with many UK and international laboratories, including the "Institut de Recherches sur la Catalyse"(IRC, Lyon F), the Institute of Applied Catalysis (iAc, UK), the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis (Novosibirsk, RU), the Institute of Applied Catalysis (ACA, Berlin, D), the Fritz-Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (Berlin, D), ICAT (Åhrus, DK), the Laboratory of Zeolite Catalysis (Lisbon, P) and the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (China). Eric Derouane has created in 1997 an European Associated Laboratory "Laboratory for Innovative Catalysis" between LCIC/University of Liverpool and IRC/CNRS .

In 1999, he co-founded with Prof. Stan Roberts in 1999 and became director of the spin-off Liverpool-based company "Stylacats". Over the ensuing years Roy Hatton being the new director, he provided wise council to the Board and inventive ideas for the scientific team. The company pioneered many different technologies (catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation, microwave-induced reactions, enzyme mimetics) before its assets were transferred to Phoenix Chemicals in 2004.

At the University of Faro, Eric Derouane led a research project, jointly with the Instituto Tecnico de Lisboa, on Friedel-Crafts reactions. With Fernando Ramôa Ribeiro's Zeolite group the collaboration included various joint research projects as well the co-organisation of a series of NATO Advanced Studies Institutes, on topics on catalysis ranging from the conversion of light alkanes to the use of high-throughput methodologies for the development of new catalysts and catalytic processes.

Eric Derouane also greatly contributed to the development and strengthening of the European catalysis community. First, he created in 1975 the European Association in Catalysis (EUROCAT), a consortium of European laboratories under the auspices of the Council of Europe and inspired them to work on the challenging problem of standardisation of catalyst characterisation: Euro-Pt1 to -Pt4, Euro-Ni1 & -Ni2, Eurocat zeolite, Eurocat oxides, etc. This Eurocat group paved the way to the creation of the European Federation of Catalysis Societies (EFCATS) and of the François Gault lectureship. He was elected President of EFCATS in 1995 for two years.

He became Editor-in-chief of J. Mol. Catal. in 1982 and was member of the Editorial Boards of many scientific journals and of scientific committees of many congresses and colloquia. He organized many congresses himself, such as the famous NATO ASI in Portugal, jointly with F. Lemos and F. Ramôa Ribeiro

Eric Derouane's contributions to catalysis have been recognised by many awards and academic honors, among them the Wauters Prize (1964), Mund Prize (1967) of the "Société Royale de Chimie", the Stas-Spring Prize (1971) and the Adolphe Wetrems Prize (1975) for the most significant Invention of the Year of the "Académie Royale de Belgique", the Rosetta Briegel-Barton Lecturership at the University of Oklahoma (1973), the Prize of the "Cercle of Alumni de la Fondation Universitaire de Belgique" (1980), the Ciapetta Lectureship of the North American Catalysis Society (1981), the Catalysis Lectureship of the Société Chimique de France (1993) and the prestigious Francqui Prize, B (1994), the highest honor for all Sciences in Belgium, etc.

He was made "Officier de l'Ordre Léopold" in Belgium (1990), corresponding Member of the "Académie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux Arts de Belgique" (1991), member of the "New York Academy of Sciences" and Associate Member of the "European Academy of Arts, Sciences and Humanities". He was conferred Doctor Honoris Causa, Technical University of Lisbon (1996)

Throughout his whole career he had consulting activities for many companies such as Akzo Chemie, NL; BP Oil, UK; Catalytica, USA; Exxon Research & Engineering Co, USA; H. Topsoe SA, DK; Mobil Res. & Devel. Corp., USA; Petronas, Malaysia; PQ Corp. USA; Rhône Poulenc, F and Symyx, USA

He authored ca 400 scientific papers, co-authored 11 books and was designated inventor on 61 patents

Eric Derouane attracted many students and foreign scholars to his different laboratories in Namur, Liverpool and Faro. His energy, his clarity of mind and his very broad knowledge impressed his students, researchers and colleagues. He was an outstanding and demanding professor, always taking time to share his knowledge with his students and was highly respected by thousands of them. His courses were always clear, highly structured and easily understandable. He knew how to share his scientific passion with others, especially with young researchers. It was very often heard that his courses were not merely lectures, but outstanding performances, akin to a "theatrical show", which highlights his formidable teaching capacity. Among his former students and post-doc researchers, there are many scientists who today occupy key positions in universities, industries and different organizations. All of them will remember his brilliant and rigorous scientific approach, and no doubt they all will greatly miss him.

Jacques C. Védrine, Michel Che, Paris
Fernando Ramôa Ribeiro, Lisboa
Jianliang Xiao, Liverpool
Bao-Lian Su, Namur
21 April 2008

22.04.08

EU funded Transnational Access Programme

Through the EU funded FP6 'Structuring the European Research Area' Programme the state-of-the-art facilities and expertise at CenTACat are now open for access to researchers throughout the EU and Associated States. Full funding for travel and living expenses is provided for users to access the facilities for periods ranging from 1 week to 3 months. For an application form and further details please visit our web site at:
http://www.centacat.qub.ac.uk/access/index.html

07.12.06